Maybe Skipping Breakfast Isn't So Bad After All?

November 28, 2001

For years, nutritionists have been telling us never to skip breakfast. The belief behind the truism is that forgoing a morning meal results in overeating later in the day to make up for the lost calories—and that eating within an hour or so of waking up kick-starts the metabolism, resulting in a greater calorie burn over the course of the day.

But surprisingly, a recent study found that breakfast skippers didn’t consume more than their breakfast-eating peers. In fact, during the study the non-breakfasters consumed an average of 408 fewer calories each day.

Of course, as athletes who need more fuel than the average person, dancers should think carefully before altering their eating habits. The bottom line? If you’re not hungry in the morning, don’t force yourself to choke down that banana before class. But make sure you’re eating healthy, complete meals and snacks later in the day, so that your body gets what it needs to power you through rehearsals.